Yet I still haven't gone in up past my ankles… (In case you aren't from around here, the ocean really is cold in New England.) Once you jump in, it's fine. You stop tip-toeing  and squealing. You also stop waving your arms in the air like a chicken.

But instead of jumping in just yet, let's go back to the beach blanket and do a progress report. Those always make me feel better.

First, my book club read my book! We had the discussion this past week. I was terribly nervous, but the meeting went w...